Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-06-17
.Iud.e Stuart.s Speech.

Charles +. Stuart Of this city, president OF
the Washington Society Of Randolph Macon
College, delivered the address before that
society last Wednesday. After graceful
word of thanks, he substantially spoke as
follows;
a few months since this country was
electrified by speech of Mr.. H. w. Grady,
of Atlanta, its subject being the New
South" 1t startled the people of the North
as being radical departure from any views
hitherto entertained by them Of the pro.
gress Of ideas, the development of material
industries, the looking to the future rather
than the past in those States which COM
posed the South as it was for five long years
OF war, as it is to-day after twenty years OF
peace. But it gave deep canse for thought TO
those in the South, who, reading between
the lines of that speech, discerned, ~ they
believed, a new creation in the New South
and not 81 development of the old South,
with all the traditions and glories and hal
lowed memories Of the past clinging about
it as its robe of honor. Repleto with the
spirit Of eloquence, filled with much that
met my cordial approval, there was yet
that in it which did not meet my views as
child of the New South, yet Old enough TO
have seen the transformation, asking myself
the answer to his arguments. stood one
glorious winters evening upon lofty cill
in the county of Westmoreland, the birth
place of so many ilustrious Nirginians-n
all history no spot is more replete with evil
dence of patriotism, craftsmanship wisdom
and love Of country-and then | felt and
knew that the New South is hut the old,
that the progress Of civilization has changed
the order Of things, as war changed its insti
tutions, but that the South Of to-day is the
South CT the past as lixedly by the laws Of
nature as by the blood that flows in the
veins Of the man OF to-day unite him with
the long lives and honored ancestors who
have gone before. And so, if take the
New South rs my theme | do so in the
language of Seneca mon tanqaaR tyaaSfu
90, Sed tanqudm erplordtor"-nol TO desert
the Old South. but to examine into the
New.
What is the South of to. day? migration
has not come to it in volumes great enough
to add much blood to the arteries four sec
ton intermarriage with the people of other
States has been in but rare instances and
not sufficient to change the characteristics
OF people The men OF the New South
were, as q rule, the babes when what is call
ed the Old ceased to exist for but few of
that Old South returned to tell the story Of
brave deeds done by their comrades The
men of the New South had to grapp!e with
problems as profound as ever confronted
man. The one, the negro, the others the
building up of country wherein every part
thereof the red hand Of war had played
havoc. They had, in fact, to rebuild de-
stroyed nation. Did the men Of the New
South 60 to their work with the earnest de
termination 10 be successful, or with y zeal
inspired only by want Of success in q cause
dear to them? Their ancestors had shown
themselves worthy TO carve out an empire
in the New World, aud the men orthe South
showed themselves fitted to graphic with
the grave questions before them Have the
men who have made the South what she is
broken down the barrier which for so many
years existed between the sections? Surely
| do not inirude upon the realms OF politics
when | say that the men Of this New South
have been among the first TO recognize the
new order OF things, and rs their forelathers
were among the first TO spring TO The aid OF
freedom OF speech and OF government, so
came they to build up their own section and
give hoheat aid and loving comfort to y com
mon county. Not that they came grovel. |
ling in the dust and whining, by conIessing
errors which they did not believe existed |
Forbid it that they should forbid il that
great names and great deeds, which will !
some day be the common heritage OF al
of our people when history shall impartial |
y record those names and those deeds, |
should be denied or renounced. On the |
contrary, they have mourned for the past
as men without hope Of its resurrection, as
strong men mourn the loss of one dear TO !
them, and yet times soothing Influence !
leaves still the precious memory OF the dead |
80 missed and mourned. Passed away for. |
ever, but never TO be forgotten, is The con-
densed thought of the men Of the Old |
South. Passed away the institution of
slavery passed away the strife Of sections |
passed away the passions of war, but endur- |
ing forever the influence Of those DAYS the |
sacred memories of the great deeds but
beyond and above all and typiGed by 40 |
one man North or South, the man of the !
New South; about him The traditions of the |
past nurtured amidst the influences of the
past, clnging to the present, proud of his
country and lis greatness; its union, be-
cause his foreiathers she'd their blood TO |
make it, stand forth the peer of all The |
world in aught that makes the man, and is |
as much the typical American citizen as any
man who ever drew the breath Of life. even
though his thought may find expression in
these lines:
''The bridegroom may forget the bride
Was made his wife yestere'cn;
The monarch may forget the crown
That on his head an hour has been
The mother msy forget the child
That smiles so sweetly on her knee;
But III remember thee, Glcncairn.
And a that thou hast been to me-
Mr.. Stuart was frequently interrupted by
loud applause, and received storm Of
cheers at the close OF his address.
The GOVERNOR ON THE STATE DEBT.-
Gov. Lee, in his address before the Fire